Northern Blues vs Casey Scorpions
Saturday August 2^nd, 2pm
Casey Fields, Casey

Head-to-Head
Played 54
Northern Blues 19                 
Casey Scorpions 35

Last Time They Met
R6, 2014: Northern Blues 8. 7. (55) defeated by Casey Scorpions 10. 11. (71) at Visy Park

The Northern Blues’ season hangs in the balance this weekend when they travel to Casey Fields to face a dwindling Casey Scorpions on Saturday afternoon.

Since the two sides met earlier in the season, the Scorpions have managed just one win from their eight ensuing VFL matches with their one victory coming against the winless Bendigo Gold.

In that Round 6 encounter, Casey’s Tim Smith spearheaded their attack with five first-half goals in torrential conditions at Visy Park.

Jordie McKenzie found plenty of the ball that afternoon with 30 disposals and seven clearances in the midfield.

For the Blues, the now injured Jaryd Cachia also excelled in the wet conditions with 31-possessions and nine clearances.

Cachia has been a focal point for the Blues since that outing, steering the Northern midfield alongside Nick Graham to four wins and four losses.

That even record has not been enough to cement Northern’s place inside the top eight, sitting ninth behind Geelong on percentage despite sharing equal points.

Casey are fairing much worse in the overall standings in 14^th position, as their young and inexperienced list has struggled with consistency throughout the course of matches.

Prior to the bye, both teams waned in the fourth quarter to lose their respective matches against Frankston and Werribee.

The Scorpions held a 12-point lead against the Dolphins at three quarter time before being outscored by 18-points in the final stanza to lose by a goal. 

Max Gawn was best-on-ground for Casey with four majors, 23 disposals and 39 hitouts.

Northern were competitive for most of their match against fifth-placed Werribee, before injuries took their toll and the Tiger’s kicked away late.

With both teams prone to lapses in concentration of late, the side with the capacity to sustain a high level of play throughout the entire contest should come away with the win.

The key to negating that level of play for the Blues could be in their ability to lock down Casey’s in-form midfielders, Mitchell Clisby and Edward Morris.

Morris is enjoying a fantastic run of form over his last three contests, accruing 81-disposals and being named among Casey’s best players in every game during that span.

Clisby has been dominant throughout the entire season for the Scorpions averaging over 23 disposals and 12 handball receives per match.

The Blues, who will be without both Nick Graham and Jaryd Cachia in the midfield, will look to rookie Patrick Cripps to shoulder the load at the stoppages.

Hard-nut Sam Cattapan – who is quietly putting together a fantastic season – could also be thrown into a head to head match-up with Clisby or Morris.

Former Geelong Falcon and new category B Carlton Rookie Fraser Russell will make his VFL debut in the match.

Russell has returned to pursue a career in football following four years of elite running over the 200 and 400 metre distances.

Northern Knight Liam Hunt will play a second consecutive VFL match following a stellar hit-out in the TAC Cup against Gippsland Power during the week off.

PLAYER WATCH

Sam Cattapan: The Aberfeldie product is ready to take the next step in the absence of Nick Graham and Jaryd Cachia from the on-ball brigade.  Cattapan has averaged over 22 disposals and three tackles in his last three matches and the scary part is, he’s only getting better.

Kane Lucas: Lucas could be on the verge of a senior call-up after accumulating 53 possessions and 21 marks in his last two VFL outings.  Lucas will be a key link in the chain for transitioning the ball between fifth metre arcs against the Scorpions.

Jack Anthony: Blues’ utility Jack Anthony has shown his versatility at both ends of the ground throughout 2014 and Saturday’s match against Casey should be no different.  Whether he’s used to lock-down an opponent, rebound from defensive fifty or hit the scoreboard himself, Anthony’s tenacity has proved invaluable.

Northern Blues Team

B          Dirago              Anthony          Byrne
HB       Armfield           McInnes           Sheehan
C          Lucas              Cripps              Holman
HF        Temay             Coulson          Garlett
F           Wilson             Walton             M. Watson
R          Warnock          Wilkinson       Cattapan
INT Hunt*, Russell, Reynolds, Totevski, Bransgrove
EMER Johnstone, D. Watson, Bolger, Dorman
*23^rd man